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Xiu Xiu / Devendra Banhart

Split
5 Rue Christine (2005)

Take two of the indie music world's hottest acts, stick them together on a split release on one of the best record labels in America, make the vinyl any number of pretty colors and patterns and you have a recipe for success. Along with a ridiculously predictable, by numbers, 'I can't be bothered thinking too hard' way of opening a … Read more

Foetus

Love
Birdman (2005)

Fire extinguishing foam, cortisone and physostigmine. All highly relevant in today's society and all created by one man, a man you've never heard of. Clint Ruin, Baby Zizanie, Manorexia, Steroid Maximus, Scraping Foetus off the Wheel, Foetus Inc., The Foetus All-Nude Review and all derivations of Foetus' music are also the creations of another man you've probably never heard of,. … Read more

Akron/Family

Akron/Family
Young God (2005)

Michael Gira is a genius. Swans and Angels of Light will undoubtedly be remembered as great bands years from now. Playing music is not all Gira is good at though. Discovering talent is another of Gira's gifts and if he keeps up with his track record, it might even become more renowned than his songwriting abilities. You may know the … Read more

The Black Dahlia Murder

Miasma
Metal Blade (2005)

I spent a good year learning the guitar arrangements, melodies, and riffs of The Black Dahlia Murder's Metal Blade Records debut, Unhallowed. It was certainly a fun, morbid, and visceral expedition into the world of melodic death metal, a la Gothenburg, Sweden. After having seen the phenomenal live show that this band put on, including the mind-bending drumming of Zach … Read more

Lights Out

Overload
Youngblood (2005)

Overload, Lights Out first full-length, is nothing less than amazing. Honestly I was not expecting this from the band because after listening to Get Out so many times, it got rather old. But this new album still hasn't gotten old and I've listened to it every day since I got it. And the reason is that on Overload, Lights Out … Read more

This Moment

Finding a Voice in the Dark
Uprising (2005)

Playing music in a genre like metalcore is a difficult thing. You've got to do what you do very well to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. Even then, odds are you will be tagged as such and thrown in with the rest of the pack of 18 Visions', Atreyu's, and Unearth's. Finding a Voice in the Dark, … Read more

Back When

We Sang as Ghosts
Shock Value (2005)

Escaping cliches can be difficult. In 2005 the instrumental metal band has become its own cliche, along with their album's reviews. Being referred to as a Neurosis-rip off or an Isis-wannabe has become a formality for these bands, and sometimes it isn't even the bands fault. Reviewers are often guilty of only looking towards the genre defining or benchmark bands/albums … Read more

Doomriders

Black Thunder
Deathwish Inc. (2005)

Throughout the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Nazgul have their own musical score. The music that was written for them is dark and operatic; when you hear it, you anticipate awful things to happen. And yet, I feel the choice that was made just wasn't dramatic enough so I took it upon myself to choose new music for … Read more

Sugar Eater

Nine Songs
Eyephat (2005)

There's obviously a fine line between the hyper-clich' badge of 'the next big thing' and the less fortunate one of 'what should be the next big thing.' In discussing this, it's easy to get very cynical very quickly. But at the end of the day, isn't it really the music that matters? Sure, I'd be na've to assume that every … Read more

Cursive

The Difference Between Houses and Homes
Saddle Creek (2005)

The release of Cursive's The Difference Between Houses and Homes: Lost Songs and Lose Ends reminded me what it was like to be excited for an album to come out. I was giddy like a kid waiting for Christmas; eagerly counting down how many more sleeps it would be until I was able to get my small, greasy, hands on … Read more

Hail Social

Hail Social
Polyvinyl (2005)

With independent music, you don't usually have the case of one hit wonders. This is mainly due to the fact that most independent music isn't being played on commercial radio and MTV. But, with Polyvinyl's recent signee, Hail Social, I have a feeling this will not be the case. Having toured with Interpol and Secret Machines, and sharing a sound … Read more

Edie Sedgwick

Her Love is Real...
Desoto (2005)

Taking his moniker from the notorious Andy Warhol actress and one time girlfriend of Bob Dylan, Justin Moyer of El Guapo/ Supersystem has created for himself a whole new persona. Dragged up, transvestite sheik is Moyer's game, like a revamped Ziggy Stardust for the post- LCD Soundsystem generation. His aim? To derail celebrity worship, or perhaps just to make you … Read more

Fischerspooner

Odyssey
Capitol (2005)

#1 was such a fantastic, yet ultimately superficial, electro-pop album. Brimming with hits and infectious dance beats, it certainly helped to solidify the iconic duo of Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner as the leaders of this new-found "electroclash" genre. I've never understood what exactly was "clashing," but that is a moot point." Built up by scenesters, musicians, Capitol Records and, … Read more

Down to Nothing

Splitting Headache
Thorp (2005)

With their debut, Save it for the Birds, the Richmond, Virginia straightedge outfit turned quite a few heads with their high-octane approach to hardcore. The furious noise assault was teamed with vocalist David Wood's straight-to-the-point lyrical approach - I recall the episode of The Simpson's where everyone 'tells it like it is.' With a combination like that, the recipe for … Read more

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